Tourism business operators welcome lifting of martial law

Private business operators have welcomed the government’s plan to replace the martial law with Section 44 of the interim Constitution which also gives special powers to the prime minister.

Mr Sa-gna Ruangwattanakul, advisor to business operators at Khao Sarn road, said that lifting of the martial law would boost tourism business as package tourists would return to visit Thailand after their suspension of visits since last May.

Mr Issara Boonyoung, honorary president of Real Estate Business Association, said that martial law has psychological effects on foreign tour operators and tourists. Also, he added that insurance policy did not cover martial law for tourists visiting Thailand thus discouraging European package tour operators to bring group tourists to visit Thailand.

Mr Charoen Wang-anon, secretary-general of Thai Tourism Business Association, said tourism business would be given a boost from the lifting of the martial law although most foreign tourists who have visited Thailand are not worried with the law.

Mr Panitharn Wattanayakorn, advisor to the deputy prime minister, said the government had realized that it was about time to allow more space for free political expressions.